Gum-strip rack and applicator



Sept. 28 1926.

.J. W. DIRKSON ET AL GUM STRIP RACK AND APPLIGATOR Original Filed Dec. '20, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Altar 7 f .Sept. 28 1926. 1,601,240

J. w. DIRKSON ET AL sum STRIP RACK AND APPLICATOR' Original Filed Dec. 20. 1920 4 Sheets-Shoat 2 Jab/I 14 00 1150, Lee Clay/7, I m r/ 1' jtto rll ey Sept. 28 1926. 1,601,240

J. w. DIRKSON ET AL Y GUM STRIP RACK AND APPLICATOR Original Filed Dec. 20, 1920 4 sheets-s t, 5

Sept. 28 1926.

J. W. DIRKSON ET AL.

GUM STRIP RACK AND APPLICATOR Original Filed Dec. 20, 1920 4 Sheets-fittest 4 Jb/r)? VDir/fsun, Lee ECZau b [l re/ iars,

Patented Sept. 28, i926.

JOHN W. DIRKSON, F KENT, AND LEE E.

GLO'UGH, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO.

THE MASON TIRE AND RUBBER COMEANY, OF KENT, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

GUM-STRIP BACK AND APPLICATOE.

Application filed December 20, 1920, Serial No. 431,930. Renewed June 14, 1926.

ary appliances for performing different constructive operations upon the carcass in tire building. This procedure requires that each stage of the work shall be thoroughly well performed within the minimum of time, while the materials must be supplied continuously and in the most convenient manner. With respect to the finishing or gum strip, it is to be noted that the material comprises a thin, narrow strip of uncured rubber requiring careful handling and accurate positioning along both sides of the carcass. ,This material is supplied to the rack upon'a reel wound intermediately of a thickness of fabric liner. The reels or rolls of material are prepared in advance for ready insertion in position on our improved rack;

our improved mechanism, we may state that it comprises essentially a supportingrack adapted to hold one or more rolls of material and liner, preferably mounted on ball 85 bearings. A swinging member provided with guiding and applying rolls is adapted to support and attach the free end of the gum strip while a reel bearing upon the periphery of the carcass automatically winds the strip ofoliner as the gum strip is un rolled. The height of the swinging arm is adjustable for different sizes of carcass. Optionally these'swinging arms and reels of material may be duplicated upon the d'e-vicein order that both the right and left finishing strips may be applied. Furthermore, the swinging applicator arm, preferably, is inter-connected with the liner reel so that these may be concurrently engaged with and disengaged from the careass atone operation of the workman.

Further details and the explanation of the manner of using our improved mechanism: may be supplied in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Referring briefiyto the construction of Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of one of our improved appliances and in conjunction with a section of carcass.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 8 is another fragmentary View in side elevation of a modified form of our improved device.

Figures 4 and 5 areenlarged detail views showing one of the tubular mounting bolts and its lock nut.

Figure'fi is an enlarged plan view illustratlng a swinging applicator arm and its associated reel.

Figure 7 is a plan view also on an enlarged scale showing the liner roll, and

Figure 8 is an elevation of thecomplete appliance.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings wehave employed the same character of reference to indicate similar parts.

Referring first to Figure 1, the fragment of carcass 11 is shown upon the left in position forapplying the finishing gum strip 11. It will be understood that the carcass is mounted rotatably upon a core and tire buck, not shown in thedrawing,'since this is unnecessary in explanation of, our improvements. The appliance of our invention is shown upon the right of the figure, comprising a removable reel, 12, whereon the gum strip and liner are wound in working lengths. The gum strip 11 is led to the swinging applicator arm, 13, passing beneath the roller 14 thereon, and. makes a quarter turn before it passes between the applicator roll, 15, and its co-acting roll, 16. This arm is adjustable as to height by means of the thumb screw 13', about'its horizontal pivot 13". Moreover. the outer portion of the arm swings upon its vertical pivot 13'.

The reel, 12, is supported within its bracket 12 by means of the removable pin 12 which passes through the two tubular bolts, 17 pivotally mounting the arm, 18, of the liner roll, 19; the latter being provided with segmental guards 19? for guiding and retaining the liner in position. The pivoted segmental latch 18? is provided for retaining the liner roll in, its elevated position out of contact with the carcass. Prefer ably, the reel and the several rolls above mentioned are provided with suitable antifriction or ball bearings so that they may freely rotate and avoid any tension or.

stretching of the fragile or tender gum strip.

Ordinarily, our appliance is equipped with a single applicator arm and corresponding gum strip reel and liner roll. However, it may readily be adapted for applying both the right and left hand gum strips by mounting two'oi the reels and rolls in tandem. as indicated, and by duplicating the swinging applicator arms as shown in Figure 2. \Vith the latter appliance an operator may readily and quickly attach both of the gum strips to a carcass in the inanner detailed in the concluding portion of this specification.

Preferably, the applicator arm and liner roll should be interconnected so that they may be concurrently engaged ith and disengaged from the carcass, thereby making our improved mechanism more etlicient and automatically clearing these members from the path of the successively advanced carcasses. It will be noted, upon referring to Figure 3, that these members are inter-connected by means of the slotted link, 20, which, in turn, is connected with the counterweight lever. 21, pivoted upon bracket 12 and terminally carrying the sliding counterweight 22. This counter-weight is so adjusted that when the swinging applicator arm is in its extended. full-line position, as shown in the drawing. the counter-weight is slightly overbalanced, thereby permitting said arm to remain in its operative position for the purpose of applying the gum strip to the side of the carcass. However. when the applicator arm is swung back to its dotted line position on pivot 13', as shown upon the right in Figure 2, for example. the weight of member 22 is sufiicient to counter-balance the arm, 18, and the retracted applicator arm, 13. Accordingly these members are elevated and retained in their dotted line position, permitting the sliding counterweight to assume its extended position, as also shown in dotted lines, Figure 3. The liner roll and applicator arm are thus maintained tree and clear of the carcass and permit its advance pastour improved appliance in order that it may he succeeded by the next carcass, t'or apply-- ing the gum strip thereto. In both Figures 1 and 3 the applicator arms for applying the right hand strips only are shown in the drawings, but it will be understood that symmet 'ical members may be provided upon the same. or the next adjacent device for applying the left hand gum strip.

We may now explain the operation of our improved mechanism: Assuming that the reel is filled with a roll of gum strip and liner, which respectively have been threaded along the applicator arm and between its rolls, and terminally wound upon the liner roll, the carcass is brought into alignment with our improved device. Thereupon the operative swings the applicator arm into the full line position of the drawings, and it necessary, adjusts its height with respect to the side of the carcass by means of the thumb screw. The liner roll either manually or automatically is brought into contact with the periphery of the carcass, and as the latter is manually rotated, the operative presses the gum strip against the side of the carcass beneath the applicator roll. 15, where it firmly adheres to the underlying rubber and canvas structure. The carcass is given one complete revolution in order to apply a full length of the finishing gum strip 11 which is then cut off and the applicator arm is swung back out of the way. Meantime. as the carcass is rotated, the liner roll is frictionally engaged and likewise rotated at a slightly greater surface speed than the gum strip is withdrawn along the side of the carcass. This serves to wind the strip of liner upon its roll and thereby trees the gum strip from any undue tension, so that this relatively fragile or tender member is not distorted in shape or cross section and may be readily and smoothly applied for the purpose of finishing the tire structure. It the operative is charged with the duty of applying both gum strips, this operation is duplicated upon the opposite side of the carcass. other wise the applicator arm and liner roll will be immediately disengaged from the carcass and another carcass will be advanced in position for performing thereon the identical operation just above described. When the reel of gum strip and liner is exhausted, another filled roll is readily inserted in the bracket merely by removing the pin 12'. taking out the empty reel and replacing it by one that has previously been filled.

Having now explained the preferred construction of our improvements in generally equivalent but modified forms, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following.

1. In an appliance of the class described, the combination with a support for a reel of gum strip and liner, of a liner roll mounted for frictional engagement and rotation by the carcass, a swinging arm and applicator roll thereon whereby the liner and gum strip respectively are wound upon the roll and applied to the sidewall as the carcass is rotated. substantially as set forth.

9.. In an appliance of the class described, the combination with a reel for gum strip and liner, of a liner roll, an applicator member, and connecting means for effecting their concurrent engagement and disengagement from the carcass operated upon, substantially as set forth.

3. In an appliance of the class described, the combination with a reel for gum strip and liner of a pivoted liner roll, a pivoted applicator arm, an applicator roll thereon,

and a counter-weight normally acting to sliding through the link to maintain said arms out maintain said members out of their operative position, substantially as set forth.

4. In an appliance of the class described, the combination With a reel for gum strip and liner, of a linerroll, an applicator roll, pivoted arms respectively mounting said rolls, a link connecting said arms and a counter-Weight normally acting of their operative set forth.

5. In an appliance of the class described,

position substantially as the combination With a reel for gum strip and liner, of a horizontal axis therefor substantially parallel With the axis of a resented carcass, a co-acting reel for the liner mounted for frictional engagement and rotation by the carcass, and a horizontally swinging arm equipped With an applicator roll and a co-acting roll positioned adjacent to the free end of said arm, whereby the gum strip is supported, Withdrawn and applied to the carcass, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, We have subscribed our names.

JOHN W. DIRKSON. LEE E. cLoUeu-L 

